me favorite heya is Azumazeki because 2 of my all-time favorites come from it:- Akebono: in spite of his recent antics, as a sumotori he was awesome.- Takamisakari: i have the impression that for him, Sumo is the thing he loves most in life. he probably also has enough money by now to take over the Heya when his Oyakata retires.

So, who from Azumazeki has done the most for the glory / popularity / benefit of sumo?

Contenders: Akebono, the first ever foreign Yokozuna, winning an impressive 11 Yusho (is that correct?)
Takamisakari: He is perhaps the most popular rikishi in the top division, and certainly the most popular in my memory who has not been a sanyaku regular.
Azumazeki-Oyakata: The first foreign (let's not nit-pick with Taiho ) rikishi to win a Yusho. A great iron man record for consecutive buots in Makunouchi. An all-round nice guy. A great colour commentator for both Japanese and English NHK (shame about the voice!). An Oyakata who always seems to be on ticket duty at the hon-bashos when I've been - and always happy to exchange a few words - especially if you mention his rikishi.

- Takamisakari: i have the impression that for him, Sumo is the thing he loves most in life. he probably also has enough money by now to take over the Heya when his Oyakata retires.

Another thing of interest, Azumazeki oyakata will be 65 in June 2009 and has to retire then. Takamisakari will be 33 then which might be a bit early for him to call it a career, or perhaps not.

I don't think it's too early...I can't really see his sumo as the type that facilitates being active into age 35 and beyond, and even with the recent rise in retirement ages, I'll be quite impressed if he actually makes it until 33...

Would he want to go on in Juryo anyway? No kensho, less attention from the audience, and the Kyokai usually doesn't look too kindly on rikishi antics below Makuuchi...

What to say about Azumazeki? I was one of those fans that fully expected Akebono to be the next Azumazeki, and maybe manage to recruit another Hawaiian/Tongan/Pacific islander into sumo. Alas, that all went poof.

Ushiomary (copyright Kintamayama) is my favourite Azumazekan now, I liked him ever since his excursion to makuuchi some years back. He's yo-yoing a lot lately (another good reason for a member of still-born Elevator ichimon to like him!) and will be dropping from Juryo again. His knees must still bother him... He's one of cuddliest sekitori today! (Heart) Maybe he'd make a better oyakata than Sakke, but I won't hold my breath.

Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.

They had a makuuchi some years back. Maegashira 10 Daihisho, who was in makunouchi from 1996-1997. Not a very successful heya though.

Azumazeki has or had really promising rikishi in Ushiomaru and Takamisakari. Takamisakari maybe an important man for sumo, but in terms of his own sumo he is a little bit disappoining. He rose to makuuchi like a rocket:

In September 2000 he had this serious knee injury and dropped back to makushita. In the next basho he had a mk, but then stormed back with 8 consecutive kk up to Komusubi. I thought he could be sanyaku regular. The last year must have been very disappointing for him. In the last few basho he wasn't even close to the Maegashira top and lost to opponents like Otsukasa. He maybe a clown but I think he is a better rikishi than his results of late show. I wonder if he can regain the Komusubi rank one more time.

The last year must have been very disappointing for him. In the last few basho he wasn't even close to the Maegashira top and lost to opponents like Otsukasa. He maybe a clown but I think he is a better rikishi than his results of late show. I wonder if he can regain the Komusubi rank one more time.

He's turning 29 in a month; they usually start to go downhill at this point. He just isn't capable of challenging sanyaku-level rikishi consistently anymore, as far as I can tell.

His recent 'heart and soul' monologue might have been a sort of practice for leading the troops. I can't really visualise him as an oyakata though. He seems to be in a constant state of surprise and never quite on top of things, even when he has just won a bout. I suppose that he might cope better with his specs on.

Probably, the form of this Oyakata is well known, even if you do not get to know about this Oyakata well?
The Oyakata who sometimes appears under a Dohyo as a referee and to whom the top of the head sharpened like a pyramid is him.
He embedded silicone at the top of the head, in order to compensate the height which is less than regulation in the case of physical examination for becoming a pupil.
Although Mainoumi also did the same thing, abnormalities are not accepted in his top of the head now.
Or this thing will not be based on progress of orthopedics, I do not understand whether it is what is depended on the difference in their view.
I got to know his character in which original stance was not changed, in his past episode.
Once there were two rikishis who became the center of attention by the individual action to the core for the travel of a rikishi meeting (Rikishi-kai).
One person of them was Kitanoumi who is continuing drinking Sake.
The other was Daijyu who continued doing table tennis.
In the time, table tennis was often furnished to the hotel(ryokan with a hot spring) in Japan as amusement.
He changes a partner and, probably, continued playing table tennis, since it could not be played alone.
It may be that he possibly continued playing against the wall like Forrest Gump in a field hospital.

Takashima-Oyakata (former Ozeki Mitsuneyama) of those days who is his Oyakata was a rikishi with experience which fell from Ozeki as well as him.
It is said that they were well alike also about not only the career but a face form, or stubborn character.
It seems that and they were not able to continue master-pupil relationship when their opinion and a plan differed.
The Heya which he retired, borrowed a Oyakata-name(Tateyama), and belonged was not Takashima-beya.
Usually, I think that 95% of the cause of such trouble is a matter of money.
However, since it is 5% of rare case about them and is the trouble which the earnestness to Sumo especially caused, I never regard it.
The Tonga disturbance(Tonga-soudou in 1976) which took place in Asahiyama-beya made it very much disappointed at the sumo fan of not only me but many.
Since it was the trouble at the time of Asahiyama (Futaseyama) of the generation [ 2nd ] ago dying, Daijyu is not related to it at all.
The disturbance involving the sovereignty of Asahiyama-beya broke out between Futaseyama's widows and Wakafutase(Asahiyama of the next generation).
Those days, the rikishi from Tonga was called the tree which fruits gold.
Asahiyama-beya which monopolized the rikishi of the Tonga was in the promising state.
It is the result of a disturbance that all six Tonga rikishis gave up their sumo life with the rikishi of whom the widow expected backup.
This disturbance that took place in Asahiyama-beya is the most regrettable occurrence about the foreign-born rikishi in the sumo world.
Incidentally, Minaminoshima(Musashigawa-beya) from Tonga who is in Sandanme now is the son of Minaminoshima who was one rikishi in six rikishis at that time.

It returns to the talk of present Asahiyama-Oyakata.
The feature at the time of active was the Sumo which moves forward little by little with Ottsuke on either side.
In the present Sekitori, Wakanoyama is the most alike rikishi.
However, please think that the power of the arm in the case of Ottsuke and the pressure to the front at the time of moving forward were the increase of 50% of Wakanoyama.
He won five Sanshos in two bashos by the basic tactics, and he was promoted to Ozeki.
Though regrettable, he does not have the pupil whom he can initiate into the foundations in Heya now.

I read the talk and comment in the magazine of the past of Daimanazuru which are the rikishi head of Asahiyama-beya, and I have a favorable impression in him.
And I have a favorable impression in a special viewpoint also about his sumo style itself.
The greatest feature about him is the physique with which he was blessed.
Although the attack which he he does not stop from Tachiai cannot be performed, it is deadlocked, and when the opponent was tired, he often starts to attack suddenly.
I evaluate that he has employed his feature in him efficiently in the possible range.
From that physique, if an attack like a flow is possible to him, he will be in Sanyaku now.
Incidentally, I offer the question of Norizo Cup as pleasure of myself each basho.
The time of the last basho, I offered "Torikumi of Daimanazuru -vs- Daishodai become Oozumo exceeding 1 minute. Yes or No" as one of them.
Though it was regrettable, it was not adopted, but the result became Oozumo as expected.
It is big pleasure for my watching Sumo to know each rikishi's feature and to imagine matching.
I admit that the Sumo which time requires too much also exists as a undeniable feature, and meaning is in it.

The photograph of his face is appeared in 2004-5 magazine 相撲. The photograph of his whole body in 2004-10 magazine 相撲. Since he is continuing trying hard in order to increase weight, he may be fat to a slight degree now.

He is the first foreign-born rikishi in history.
Incidentally, the first foreign citizenship rikishi in history is Toyonishiki[豊錦] (Japanese descent of the Colorado Greeley birth, and Nyu-maku in May, 1944.).

Takamiyama was born as 11 brothers' youngest child.
He was born, his father passed away immediately, and he grew up at the poor home.
The aftereffect of the grievous injury of the leg by the traffic accident which he covered at the age of six troubled him also in the time when he was a rikishi.
The main causes by which he lacked bounce of a lower half of the body were the aftereffect.
Setting aside whether it was that he is satisfied with his own old life, probably, he did not become a rikishi without that injury.
That is because he has very much much episode bewildered by Japanese culture or the custom of Sumo.
Since he refused when he fastened a Mawashi on the waist for the first time, he was restrained by two or more rikishis and it was forcibly performed.
When he ate Channko for the first time, he was not able to eat without adding catsup to it.
It is said that Matawari（ Sit on the ground, extend a leg even to a limit horizontally, and push down before the body simultaneously.) troubled him most.
It is said that he said, "This is not a tear but sweat" though tears were shed in pain.

Takamiyama was persuaded by Takasago-Oyakata (former Yokozuna Maedayama), and he came to Japan.
Persuasion of Takamiyama who was hesitating at decision took Maedayama three years.
Since the cause which Takamiyama hesitated most was existence of his mother, Maedayama moved his heart by her guarantee of the food, clothing and shelter for five years.
Maedayama retired from the sumo world, as a result of going to watch [ of the major leagues which had visited Japan in spite of during a Kyujyou period ] a game baseball and reporting the photograph of handshaking with the manager.
For the purpose which tells the world about Sumo, and invitation of an overseas rikishi, Maedayama went to Hawaii - the North American Continent immediately after the retirement, and performed the demonstration with several active rikishis.
From the first, although he had visited America in spite of the contrary of the Sumo association, he had the period further extended on his own judgment, and left a Honnbasho undone at last.
Although Kyokai reprimanded him s those days, he made the relation with Hawaii as big distinguished services at this time.
I think that there was probably no prosperity of a present foreign-born rikishi if he did not exist.

Although I was looking at Takamiyama's Sumo live, the I of those days was only merely pleased with his showy performance, charms and a bodily size.
When I look at his results anew now, I am not trusted that he was not able to be promoted to Ozeki.
And I have noticed that he had not attained good results continuously only after investigating his results still in detail.
Couldn't he who did not do a big injury attain the good results which continued why several times merely?
I think that those who can reply to this question clearly are not.
It became a subsequent time and public had an opinion that promotion to the Ozeki may be unable to be attained even by matchless Konishiki.
I will not forget that there was Takamiyama in a situation still severer than it.

I very regret that Akebono went away from the sumo world.
Probably, considering so has the thought not only with me but rikishis of the higher rank of the present Makuuchi.
It is because most rikishis have experience which received his suitable instruction and good Keiko.
One report in the public presentation Keiko under provincial Jyungyo tour had told that impressively.
While the spectators who looked at the rikishi who was completely exhausted with intense Keiko to which Akebono urges, and covered with mud was only glad and was laughing, it was written that Akebono have required the applause of aid of them.
He was a specialist about irreplaceable rikishi training for Kyoukai.
Why did he have to go away?
Although I have not read his autobiography (it is said that he wrote), probably I imagine that truth is not written into it.

Naturally it is one of the causes that he was not able to acquire Toshiyori-Kabu.
In addition to it, the discord of his and Azumazeki-Oyakata was also spoken about.
Oyakata of retirement age nearness was said to have had the idea which transfers Heya to him as a same province.
However, when also inheriting Heya simultaneously with Toshiyori-Kabu, a fund immense for him is needed.
In such a case, it is common that Kouennkai (supporters' organization)helps.
However, since he had lost the only Kouennkai as his only hope by the marriage problem, Oyakata's idea was in the unrealizable situation as a matter of fact.
Even if his Kouenkai continued, there will also be an opinion that he was not able to inherit Heya by discord with Oyakata.
What Akebono refused marriage with Oyakata's daughter which Oyakata wished for was called the basis.
Moreover, after Akebono retires, it is said about the performance fee of a TV commercial, or the broadcasting right of an announcement-of-a-marriage party that Akebono had dissatisfaction.
Although I do not have a corroboration with these true rumor, these are not rare talks in the sumo world altogether.

From what I have read (an authorised biography by a PhD student from University of Hawaii), all the things that Susanoo has said about the discord between Akebono and Azumazeki oyakata are correct. While this seems to be common knowledge in sumo circles, the biography does corroborate this by having had interviews with Akebono and him saying these things. I think he resented that his position as sekitori and then yokozuna brought Azumazeki such a windfall of cash, and that Akebono did not really see a lot of it. I don't think it was really that Akebono was after the money, but that he felt somehow used and not appropriately looked after. One example was that he had to pay for his family members to be able to attend a major party (his yokozuna party perhaps? I can't remember) when it was celebrating him, and he (Akebono) felt that they should not be charged, or that the cost should be offset against all the other paying guests.

Takamiyama, Akebono and Takamisakari comprise the trio that most sumoforum fans know quite a lot about since there has been abundance of information of all these rikishi. Ushiomaru has been less known rikishi about whom not much has been written in the last 5 years or so.

Few years ago when Shiroikuma reported from Azumazeki-keiko, he mentioned Ushiomaru being a great future hope there and Azumazeki-oyakata had big hopes for him. Ushiomaru has never really bloomed fully and his capacity seems to have lacked the final gear to break into regular mid maegashira. Then his bad knee injury on day 14 in Haru 2004 made him quite wounded and shaky. He missed Natsu basho and came back in Nagoya 2004 after dropping to juryo 7 but has not been able to get kachi koshi as sekitori ever since. 7-8 in Nagoya, 6-9 in Aki, 5-10 in Kyushu. Came back from makushita in Hatsu basho with 5-2 but goes down again after a bad 5-10 make-koshi in Kyushu. His knee is still very problematic and has that feared ACL-deficiency.

There is a website dedicated to Ushiomaru. Results, profile, interviews there.

Ushiomaru was born 11.5.1978 which means he is still a young 26-year old rikishi. He was born in Shizuoka and entered ozumo in 1994 after completing junior high school at the age of 16. 177cm tall weighing around 165-170kg. Blood type is B. He used to play softball and baseball in his early youth was was scouted to join sumo. Evidently Ushiomaru didn't have real sumo experience before entering ozumo.

In Hatsu 2002 he made his juryo debut and immediately went 11-4, suffered an injury in Haru but came back strongly in Nagoya 2002 winning juryo yusho with 13-2 at J8. In his makuuchi debut he had his only kachi koshi in makuuchi with 9-6. Another bad injury in Kyushu 2002 sent him back to juryo though. He climbed back to makuuchi but could only reach 7-8 at maximum there and then came the aforementioned bad knee injury in Haru 2004 and he will be in makushita in Natsu 2005.

Don't know where this first set of questions were asked as Ushiomaru mentions "Akebono-oyakata" but here some translation anyway:

Then some comments from Ushiomaru at the end of June last year when he was recuperating from the injury suffered in Haru:

How is the injury condition now? Does it still bother your sumo? - DaijoobuWhat are the latest enjoyments for you? - Sleeping!What do you want now the most in sumo? - Hmm? To win at least one shiroboshi eh?Outside sumo then? - A watch maybe...Nagoya basho comes, enthusiastic onegaishimasu and so- I'll do my best in order not to injure myself.Message to fans? - I'll do my best again and hope you will keep on rooting for me!

Then evidently before Aki 2004 Ushiomaru was asked about the knee again and he said it was painful but daijoobu and keiko with sekitori had gone better than he thought because body moved well. He was then asked about Katayama against whom he was about to have his first bout in Aki basho and whom he knew from a way back. "Katayama isn't big but has good tenacity to go forward. I will do my utmost best to beat him!".

Edited by Kaikitsune Makoto, 15 April 2005 - 22:45.

The Core of Sumou is a very good thing always no matter if sumou is rotten or not.

Few years ago when Shiroikuma reported from Azumazeki-keiko, he mentioned Ushiomaru being a great future hope there and Azumazeki-oyakata had big hopes for him. Ushiomaru has never really bloomed fully and his capacity seems to have lacked the final gear to break into regular mid maegashira. Then his bad knee injury on day 14 in Haru 2004 made him quite wounded and shaky. He missed Natsu basho and came back in Nagoya 2004 after dropping to juryo 7 but has not been able to get kachi koshi as sekitori ever since. 7-8 in Nagoya, 6-9 in Aki, 5-10 in Kyushu. Came back from makushita in Hatsu basho with 5-2 but goes down again after a bad 5-10 make-koshi in Kyushu. His knee is still very problematic and has that feared ACL-deficiency.

If I recall correctly, his knee problems go back even further than 2004 (you can see him hobbling off the dohyo before going kyujo in his second Makuuchi basho here), although it has definitely gotten worse over the years. He's really the prime example of somebody who should just bite the bullet and get surgery if possible in order to get healthy, even if it means being absent for several basho and temporarily dropping into Sandanme. He's only 26, but at the current rate, I think it's doubtful he'll even be able to collect the necessary 11 more sekitori basho to be eligible for a kabu after retirement. Right now he's barely at lower-Juryo/Makushita-joi level; a bit more deterioration in his condition, and he'll be Makushita-bound for the remainder of his career. And I'm saying that as somebody who likes the guy.

From what I have read (an authorised biography by a PhD student from University of Hawaii), all the things that Susanoo has said about the discord between Akebono and Azumazeki oyakata are correct. While this seems to be common knowledge in sumo circles, the biography does corroborate this by having had interviews with Akebono and him saying these things.

I just was going over this now and I checked again Akebono's book "Yokozuna" and indeed he attributes the reason his personal supporters club disbanded was because of his insistence to marry the woman he chosen for himself.

Akebono basically said to the club members while he apprecited their support and concerns, it was him who trained hard day after day to achieve the ultimate position in Ozumo. When he came to Japan, there was no gurantee that he would amount to anything substantial. No one promised him anything, no one gave him any break. And he expected none.

In the end he thought it was his individual efforts that brought him the highest rank. The club members were not there with him when he suffered serious injuries, they were not there with him when he worked long and hard at rehab. They never were aware that it took him an hour to get out of bed and the searing pain he felt every time he moved his body.

Akebono picked his wife and family over his supporters club. For that you must admire the man because it was really the beginning of the end for him. He realized deep in his heart sooner or later he must move on and he did eventually do that. Akebono was more suited to a life as a lone wolf testing his own strength than being a communal worker, spending his life trying to merely get along. I still think he has made the best choice for himself and his family but it was a bad decision by the Kyokai to let him go.

< Heart Technique Physique >More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours that keep us so tightly boundYou come to my eyes like a vision from the skies